frosty

Find it odd that Rothwell can be left out of any potential line ups because he was quiet in his TWO starts (two months apart) this season, yet Evans is included in said line up after six years of mainly non performances.

We fielded an absolute stinker of a team that night. Caddis, Elliott Ward, Gladwin, Whittingham and Feeney all started....Antonsson upfront on his own too who was about as strong as a paper bag. Surprised it was only 2!

Dunny tweeted 'Be careful what you ask for' not long ago. Of course that could relate to anything, but chances are it's about Mowbray...

I’m sure it was 8 when I checked earlier, so someone has seen the light....!

Disappointing to see Gallagher start ahead of Graham (if he’s upfront) or super Joey Rothwell (if he’s inexplicably on the wing).

But has the past 12 months (and especially this season) not shown that, regardless of how many points we might find ourselves away at a given point, we're completely incapable of fighting for promotion? Reminds me of Bowyer's last full season a little. "If we win our game in hand we'll be four points from the playoffs". Yes we would have been, but the previous 18 months under him had made it clear that we just weren't capable. Even if by some miracle we win tonight and on Saturday, it wouldn't change anything. The bigger picture suggests mid-table is our limit.

We might win - we're due a victory to ensure we keep plodding along in mid-table and that we don't fall too far down the league. Birmingham can't be up to much themselves either, one mid-table team v another. Obviously hope we win but it's pretty depressing that a victory wouldn't really mean anything, as we've made it clear we're incapable of doing anything of note this season.

Longer than that I’m afraid! We went 2-0 up in that game. League One days I think it was. Really disappointing in the end after an encouraging first half. The subs made us worse. Gallagher and Evans on? Taking Holtby and Travis off at the same time? We’re just drifting aimlessly. It’s frustrating and boring to be honest.

Best first half at Ewood for absolutely ages. Dack loved having Rothwell in the team - somebody on the same wavelength - at the end of last season and it’s the same with Holtby now. Two good goals especially Dack’s. Tosin’s distribution and use of the ball is on another level compared to Lenihan (and all our other CBs). Ideal for getting the ball to the feet of Dack and Holtby in dangerous areas. Well done Nyambe too.

Bell isn’t good enough if we want to progress (which is a big ‘if’ anyway....) and his lack of desire to close down crosses is unforgivable, but some of the above is over the top. He’d be nowhere near my thoughts if I was asked to name the worst Rovers players I’ve seen.

Haven't got it to hand but yep sure he said that (and you're right, I think it was Boersma) but the other players soon thought he looked more like he cost £70k than £7m. He obviously wasn't up to it but there was the odd moment that showed he had some ability, his first goal v Everton was very nicely taken then in the aforementioned West Ham game he played a lovely chipped through ball to Flitcroft to score. Jansen's relief was clear though when Cole came in January.

Hmmm, that would definitely represent a poor tournament, but I don’t think he would actually. Let’s not forget Hodgson was allowed to stumble into Euro 2016 and preside over the Iceland shambles despite England getting dumped out of the 2014 World Cup with one point from three group games. He’s got a lot of credit in the bank from the World Cup last year and ticks a few other boxes too so I’d say he’s probably pretty bulletproof unless there’s a disaster like that Iceland game.

The official Rovers account have just tweeted he's out for the next 6-8 weeks ? We'll be so short now.

Agreed. And “Aberdeen at home” doesn’t really work when they had trips to Istanbul and Athens in the following rounds.

I’m sure the BBE were trying to get a song going just after our goal but got drowned out by that tacky trash. Who looked at the dead atmosphere at Ewood and decided bringing goal music back is just what was needed? Baffling.

Indeed. We need some life, a spark, something that could possibly even produce a shot on target. We've shown at least something down the left, Armstrong has been bright, but that’s pretty much it. Nothing down the right with Bennett and Gallagher.

In what world are Gallagher and Armstrong better options than Rothwell on the wing?

Would love to see that lineup.

Brighton were struggling in the Championship when he was appointed, he kept them up that season then finished 3rd, then got promoted, then they survived two seasons in the Premier League (the first comfortably) and an FA cup semi final too. I’d kill for someone to come in at Rovers and have an impact like that, regardless of the style of play - which I doubt would be worse than what we’re currently seeing, and that’s at a level below where Hughton was.

You know the season is destined for mediocrity when you read posts saying ‘we’re only x points off the playoffs’.

Beyond frustrating. But yet not that surprising. Don’t know where to start. I looked more likely to score than Gallagher and I was sat up in the stands. You only ever see him chasing the ball, you never actually see him on it. Graham must start Tuesday. But no goalscoring striker is a huge concern (despite what some on here were saying in the week). Downing is perfectly neat and tidy and shows his intelligence at times but is easy to mark off the right, coming inside all the time. Consequently that left loads of space for Bennett whose crossing, first half particularly, was dire. But yep can certainly understand how Downing had so few goals/assists in 40 odd appearances for Boro. Feels weird hoping for somebody to be ill but I do hope Rothwell is ill and that’s why he wasn’t included. Holtby looked good and you can see his ability. Predicting a draw Tuesday then a win at QPR to keep Mid-Table Mowbray’s Rovers firmly in mid-table.

Excellent goal from Travis who’s been the best player on the pitch. We started off well playing with intensity in the first 10 mins but unfortunately it’s another first half at home where we haven’t created much at all. Must win this, anything else would be a disaster.

Rothwell ill? ?

Half an hour to see whether we’ve made any genuine progress from last season. Fingers crossed.

Get in! Going 1 up early away from home has led to some miserable results since we got promoted, pray for today to be different. COYB